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Regulus was not a fan of football, despite the fact that his brother played for their high school’s team. He wasn’t big on the crowds at the games, the loud atmosphere. Not even if it meant he got to watch James Potter run around the field. He was often forced to the games by his friends who loved the same things that Regulus hated about the games. Pandora smeared red onto his cheeks and smiled as she took a picture of them all matching. “It’s school spirit, Regulus!” she insisted, much to Regulus’s chagrin and his friends' laughter. This game was different, it was the Homecoming game.The following day, the campus would hold a dance and girls would dress up and the boys would sling suit jackets over their button ups. Regulus would have to dig out his old formal clothes from the back of his closet. This was an important game, Regulus knew. Sirius had been freaking out about it all that morning, dashing up and down the hallway “warming up”.They were playing well when halftime came around, ahead enough that it was not too much worry, but not enough that they could just stop trying. The other school was determined to defeat them, not that they had that much chance. Regulus’s school had a very good team, all things considered. He stood in the student section of the crowd, puffing a strand of hair out of his face as he ached to itch his cheek but knew it would mess up the red swatch that Pandora had done. If he was going to be in spirit, he was not going to do it badly, Regulus decided. The mark for half-time hit and the players disengaged, Regulus looked up as Dorcas excitedly shouted at her girlfriend who was set to begin her half-time cheer.He rolled his eyes, watching as the cheerleaders, dressed in red and gold, waved their pom-poms but surprisingly did not move to the center of the field to perform.“Regulus!” Regulus looked up when he heard the echo from the fenceline and locked silver eyes with the hazel that belonged to James Potter. He smiled softly and bit his lip, stalking over to the fence, ignoring the confused, “How do you know Potter?” shout that Barty let out.“Hi,” he murmured as he neared the fence. James wiped sweat from his brow and fixed Regulus with a wide grin. For a moment, Regulus became acutely aware of the fact that everyone was watching their interaction, but he brushed it off. He was not ashamed to be with James Potter, to be talking to him.James let out a breath before his voice was audible, “I’m supposed to go to half-time, but before that I have a little question I’d like to ask,” he declared. Regulus only had a moment to comprehend before Marlene was handing James a bouquet and it was being offered to Regulus as James’s teammates lifted four letters along with a question mark simultaneously. “HOCO?” the signs read in order. Regulus flushed and looked into James’s eyes.“Will you go to homecoming with me?” James asked, red roses lined with baby's breath in his hands as he climbed on the fence to reach Regulus’s height on the platform.It was all Regulus could do to nod affirmatively and smile wider than he had in ages, the word “yes” slipping from his lips as James’s grin seemed to grow infinitely brighter.There were fifty million butterflies swarming in Regulus’s stomach as James handed him the flowers and rested his hand on Regulus’s cheek, leaning in to press a chaste kiss to his lips.The football players holding the signs erupted into applause, followed quickly by the cheerleaders along with the crowd. It was not every day that Quarterback James Potter asked anyone to the Homecoming Formal.As the two pulled apart, Regulus became startlingly conscious of the way his friends were reacting. The wolf whistling courtesy of Barty, the “Why is Reggie kissing the Quarterback?” via Evan, the squealing from Pandora and the “Ah, the brother’s best friend,” comment from Dorcas. This was going to be incredibly annoying to explain, but he would do it. Regulus would do anything if it meant that he got to publicly love James. They’d been talking in secret for the last couple months, sitting next to each other in their Psychology course. James had suggested that they keep it ‘on the downlow’, mostly because he was one of the star football players and as such received a lot of attention.Also because of Sirius, he was most certainly not going to be pleased if he found out that his younger brother and best friend were talking in a romantic fashion. Or talking at all.“If you don’t mind,” James murmured into Regulus’s neck, “I’d really like for you to wear my jersey,” he admitted softly, almost vulnerable.He was afraid that Regulus would reject the idea, the thought of James’s last name on his back. Regulus merely kisses James again, raising his arms in mock surrender which cued James to slip his extra jersey over Regulus’s head and comfortably rest it on his torso.It was certainly not his size and Regulus would not have it any other way.The two held each other for a moment, soaking up the feel of one another and the sound of the crowd. The scent of churros in the air and the moisture littering James’s body from the game.This solace was torn apart as they jolted upon the sound of an appalled voice, “What in the world is going on?”
Sirius.